First Updates From the Land Down Under

I'll start off by saying.. sorry. It has been a long time since our last blog. Think about it like this.. as our dear friends and family (even the odd acquaintance and complete stranger that peruses the blog), would you rather us be cooped up during (during the day or night) writing about our times?


Another way to think about it..... Last time I was in Australia for 3 months, I wrote 3 blogs... If you even out our 1 month plan this time around compared to our 3 month plan last time... we are about even with this 1 blog. That being said.... here is what we have been up to since leaving South America.


So................................ we have been...................... doing a lot of................................ yah....


Based on the 2 weeks we have been in AUS, I can say in confidence that it has been fun and relaxing. One other thing that I have become aware of... NOT A THING HAS CHANGED.. it might be a little more hipster in some spots.. but what city isn't. This might sound very simplistic compared to South America... but let me explain.


I will start by reiterating that South America was absolutely epic... read our last blog for reference because I don't want to repeat myself. Reflecting back on South America; where everyday was a constant struggle, AUS has given us the gift of all english (kinda, in an aussie sort of way) all the time, first-world living, great surf, beach and landscapes. After 2 months of broken english  conversations and charades (try and think about what it would be like to tell someone who barely even speaks his own language, Portuguese, that you need toilet paper), unrecognizable food (at least to our digestive systems - this affected some more than others, and don't get me wrong, was delicious), and the standard third-world "inconveniences" (although they were amazing to experience) - we have traded (some would say up and some would say down) to an Australian way of life. The best way to ring in a true aussie experience is to start with touring the coast.


We kicked it off with an epic reunion with the OG (original gypsy), Keith Addy in Coolum Beach (20 minutes south of Noosa Heads and 2 hrs North of Brisbane). Its amazing getting back together with great friends after seeing each other so sporadically over the last 5+ years. Needless to say, two of the people who raved havoc in Ottawa for 3+ years haven't missed a beat. Within 2hrs of settling in at Keith's, we were in the surf. In the surf can be taken directly because I spent the afternoon getting dish-washered in waves I had no business being in.

Reunited with the OG (original Gypsy)

Super happy to be reunited

The next couple days looked a lot like that.... One day our chests were too bruised to surf so we had an epic little hike down the Noosa Heads National Park coast... Maybe we found an isolated nudie beach?? just saying. I will leave it to you to guess whether or not we joined the action.

Beautiful Noosa Heads... Also our first surfing spot

Tea Trees in Noosa national park

Enjoying the secluded Alexander Bay Beach in Noosa

Hell's Gate point in Noosa National park

From there... the word cheeky was basically tattooed into our daily vocabulary.. here is why.. Let me give it away by describing cheeky monkeys in 2008. The only bar in Byron Bay to serve shots, unofficially reserved for backpackers and has no dance floor.. ONLY DANCE TABLES. LAVA...... This was the fuel behind our weekend trip to Byron Bay. Me, Tals and Keith were stoked on the surf, sun, beach, landscape, etc.... all stemming from our anticipation for Cheeky Monkeys. Much like the rest of Australia... nothing changed.. including the music (Ja Rule was playing all over the strip). Needless to say, we left after a few table dances (literally) and spent the rest of the night in various 19 year old dominated clubs.

Getting cheeky on our warm up pre-cheeky monkeys

Continuing around the 19 year old bars

Beautiful Byron Bay

Hitting the Surf in Byron

After a few more groundhog days, a wicked sunset from the top of Cape Byron Keith headed for Melbs and Tals and I were off to pick up our epic rapist van turned camper to begin our drive down the coast.

Sun setting over Bryon

Epic sun sets

I hope this blog has satisfied what you have been missing. it has for me.


OOO-Jonny